Safety razor with disposable blade magazine

ABSTRACT

A SAFETY RAZOR HAVING A DISPOSABLE TWO-COMPARTMENT BLADE MAGAZINE OPERABLY RELATED WITH A MANUALLY OPERATED BLADECONTROLLING MECHANISM CARRIED BY THE RAZOR HEAD FOR DISPLACIN THE NEW BLADES INDIVIDUALLY INTO SHAVING POSITION AND FOR TRANSFERRING SUCH BLADES WHEN DULL FROM THE NEW BLADE COMPARTMENT TO THE OTHER COMPARTMENT FOR STORAGE UNTIL THE NEW BLADE SUPPLY IS EXHAUSTED REQUIRING A MAGAZINE EXCHANGE.

United States Patent Glenn T. Randol Loch Lynn Heights, Md. 785,186

Dec. 19, 1968 June 28, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented SAFETYRAZOR WITH DISPOSABLE BLADE MAGAZINE 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 30/40 Int. Cl B26b 21/24 Field of Search 30/40, 40.2, 62

ll 22 E3 E6 3O 3! 32 35 Jll lll im in [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,742,693 4/1956 Nigro 30/40 2,989,805 6/ 1961 Bringewald30/40 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, .Ir.

ABSTRACT: A safety razor having a disposable two-compartment blademagazine operably related with a manually operated blade-controllingmechanism carried by the razor head for displacing the new bladesindividually into shaving position and for transferring such blades whendull from the new blade compartment to the other compartment for storageuntil the new blade supply is exhausted requiring a magazine exchange.

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as as 39 64 en 6 '9 4E 46 6 77 76 7 SAFETY RAZOR WITH DISPOSABLE BLADEMAGAZINE This invention relates to safety razors providing manual bladechanging. In the related art, the problem of attaching a separate blademagazine to the commercial injector-type razor and subsequent operationand removal of the magazine from the razor to enable shaving along withmanual storing of the used blades individually in the magazine withpossible personal injury involved, constitutes the major objection tothis type of razor since both hands are required to forcibly attach anddetach the magazine and to manipulate the blade injector (finger-piece)while holding the razor stabilized, and more often than not the magazinekey is difficult to insert between the blade-clamping members (razorhead) and when so inserted disalignment often exists between the newincoming blade and the used blade to be ejected thus blocking movementof the finger-piece until manual maneuvering of the magazine and razorhead restores blade alignment to release the finger piece for movementto effect the blade exchange. Upon such blade exchange being completed,manual separation of the magazine from the razor head requires use ofboth hands before a shaving operation can ensue. Accordingly, it is seenthat the disadvantages outweigh the advantages in a blade exchange inthe commercial injector-type razor which requires multiple manualoperations involving both hands along with personal inconvenience andpossible injury handling the blades individually, more than offset theadvantages of being able to insert the new blades individually withouttouching them.

Therefore, the primary objective of the invention is to overcome suchdisadvantages by providing a novel and improved injector-type safetyrazor which carries a disposable two-compartment blade magazine with onecompartment containing new blades and formed with integratedcutting-edge control components, and the other compartment serving as astorage for dull blades, and a manual blade-controlling (moving)mechanism carried by the razor head for displacing new bladesindividually into shaving position and for effecting transfer of theblades as they become dull from the new blade compartment to the usedblade compartment thus eliminating manual handling of the bladesindividually and possible personal injury and/or inconvenience, andwherein the floor of the storage compartment is magnetized to stabilizethe dull blades in stacked formation against rattling" duringmanipulation of the razor until the new blade supply is exhaustedrequiring a magazine exchange.

Another object is to produce the razor head in the form of a magazineholder comprising a head segment projecting forwardly at an angle from asupport segment defining an extension of the razor handle, said magazinehaving integrally formed longitudinally spaced blade-stops definingopposite extremities, respectively, of a cutting-edge guard segmentsubjacent to a cutting-edge outlet between the forward marginal edge ofthe head segment and top of the magazine front wall whereby the magazinebecomes a shaving instrument in itself independently of the holder.

Another object is to provide such magazine with a stabilizing latchwhich projects through an opening in said handle extension in lockingengagement with a cooperating edge margin defining said opening thuslocking the magazine in operative position on the razor head withrespect to the topmost blade, said latch being manually movable againstspring-bias in two directions to release and partially project themagazine from the razor head thus facilitating manual removal. Anotherobject is to utilize a normally compressed spring between the floor ofthe new blade compartment and the confronting lowermost blade forfeeding the stack of new blades to individually engage opposite endmargins thereof with a pair of blade-retaining flanges, respectively,the latter overlying opposite ends, respectively, of a blade outletdefined by the top of the front wall of the magazine in spaced subjacentrelation to said flanges. As each blade is presented in engagement withsaid flanges therefore in alignment with said blade outlet, such bladeis predeterminately advanced under said blade injector to engageopposite corners of the cutting edge with said blade stops,respectively, to establish the blade in shaving position and releasablyso maintained.

Another object is to produce such two-compartment magazine from moldedplastic material with a removable bottom wall defining the floor of bothcompartments, and to enable loading with unused blades in commercialform, said bottom wall having a medially transverse depending embossmentwhich carries the aforesaid spring-biased latch (catch) for stabilizingthe magazine in shaving position by automatically engaging a cooperatingedge margin defining a preferably rectangular opening in an extensiondepending from the support segment, said latch being manuallydisengageable from said opening to enable removal of the magazine uponusing all of the sharp blades, the bottom wall of the compartmentcontaining unused blades being provided with a pair of spaced upstandingcontrol elements (projections) which project through similarly spacedelongated apertures in the blades in commercial form to maintainalignment in stacked formation with the respective cutting edges spacedfrom the inner side of the magazine front wall to prevent dulling. Thetops of said projections being flush with the top of said front wallwhich defines the lower side of said blade outlet, to enable releasingthe topmost blade for advancement into shaving position withoutinterrupting engagement of its opposite end margins with saidblade-retaining flanges, under said blade injector.

An object related to the object next above is to form the upperlongitudinal edge of said front wall as a cutting-edge guard segmentprojecting forwardly, and that portion of said wall below said guardsegment being angulated (tapered) rearwardly out of interference withthe flow of beard-ladened lather through the usual expulsion openingadjacent said guard segment, and to facilitate manipulation of the guardsegment in contact with the skin at the correct shaving angle.

Another object is to provide a novel form of safety razor usingcommercial single-edged injector blades characterized by a sharp cuttingedge opposite a butt (dull) edge, and which lends itself to economicalmanufacture on a quantity basis.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will become apparentduring the following comprehensive disclosure of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a safety razor incorporating a preferredembodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1with the lower portion of the razor handle broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on an enlarged scalealong the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 to clarify the structure comprising themanual blade injector and guide member therefor carried on the razorhead;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation on a reduced scale;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation on the same scale as FIG. 2 showing thecutting-edge control components with the lower portion of the razorhandle broken away;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the novel two-compartment blade magazine unitincluding a blade depicted in broken outline in its three relativepositions controlled by the aforesaid manual blade injector and springassociated with the new blades;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of the razor head andoperatively related blade magazine in process of being removed;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the blade injector infully retracted position to accommodate insertion of a loaded magazineunit shown in progress; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the manual blade injector and relatedunder side of the guide member therefor.

Referring to the drawing, the presently preferred embodiment of theinvention is the razor illustrated in FIGS. I9 and generally designatedR. The razor head RH serves as a magazine holder and includes arectangular head segment 9 forwardly projecting at an angle from asubstantially upright rectangular support segment 10 having an elongatedhorizontal opening 11 adjacent its juncture with the segment 9. A

marginal segment (lip) 12 defines the forward edge portion of said headsegment 9 and is offset inwardly at opposite ends to produce controlshoulders 13. The reduced length of the segment 12 is adapted to controlcentralization of a novel twocompartment blade magazine unit generallydesignated BM with respect to the razor head RH during insertion, and tooverlie that portion of the blade adjacent its cutting edge in shavingposition. An elongated depending extension 14 on said support segment10, is rigidly attached at its lower end portion 15 to the upper endportion of the razor handle H to produce a unitary assembly thereof asbest shown in FIG. 4. Blade-moving means disclosed herein as a manualblade control (injector) BT best illustrated in FIG. 9, are slidablycarried transversely of the head segment 9 medially thereof as shown inFIG. 1 in operative association with the topmost blade, and comprise: arectangular plate 17 formed with a forward offset shelf 18 which carriesa resilient member 19 on its upper side and is characterized by a pairof longitudinally spaced forwardly overhanging extensions 20 eachterminating in a rounded end 21 and a rearwardly spaced blade controlshoulder 22 normal to said extension. The upper side of said member 19is flush with the upper face of the plate 17 proper therefore thecombined thicknesses of the shelf 18 and member 19 equal the thicknessof the plate 17 proper as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The blade controlshoulders 22 are adapted to engage the confronting edges of a pair ofaligned elongated apertures (slots) 23 in the body of the blade Bcharacterized by a cutting (sharpened) edge 24 opposite a butt(nonsharpened or dull) edge 25 in commercial form. A segmental portionof the blade body is disposed between said slots and the butt edge 25,the latter being engageable by a forward control edge 26 on the shelf 18under protractive manual movement of the plate 17 therefore thebladeinjector Bl, to advance an unused blade relatively to a blade outlet 27defined by blade thickness space obtaining between the top of the frontwall of the magazine compartment 28 for new blades and the superjacentforward marginal edge of the lip segment 12 aforesaid, to expose thesharpened edge 24 for shaving as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and also toposition said blade control shoulders 22 in alignment with theirrespective edges of the slots 23 in the blade B for subsequentengagement thereby to withdraw such blade into registry with the opentop of the magazine compartment 29 for storage therein, under fullretractive manual movement of said blade injector plate 17. A pair offasteners (rivets) 30 rigidly secure the body portion of the resilientmember 19 to the upper side of said shelf 18 as shown, so that therounded ends 21 on the resilient extensions 20 when normally relaxed inhorizontal position (see FIG. 2) will have camming engagement with thebutt edge 25 of the topmost blade B for lifting the blade controlshoulders 22 to slide over the segmental portion of the blade body underprotractive manual movement of the blade injector Bl into registry withthe aforesaid blade slots 23 to present the edges thereof for engagementby said blade control shoulders 22. The resilient characteristic of theextensions 20 is effective to restore them to normal relaxed statusshown in FIGS. 2 and 7, to effect such engagement of the shoulders 22into the blade slots 23 so that ensuing retractive movement of the bladeinjector Bl will be effective to move the connected topmost blade as aunit for deposit in the used blade compartment 29 as shown in FIG. 6(dashed lines) and in FIG. 7 (solid lines) wherein such blade in FIG. 6is shown in broken outline in all three of its relative positions in thetwo-compartments of the magazine unit BM including its shaving position.

The resilient member 19 is provided with a rearwardly extending springydetent element 31 of reduced width and having a terminal arcuate portion32 freely movable within a perimeter opening 33 in the plate 17, toreleasably engage a cooperating slot 34 formed in a rectangular guidemember 35 fast on the underside of said head segment 9 as by a pair ofrivets 36 or otherwise, with its rear end spaced from the opening 12aforesaid, said detent element when relaxed as shown in FIG. 9 beingdisposed at an angle to the extensions 20, but

when installed under operative tension as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, it isdisposed in a common horizontal plane with the extensions 20. Theperimeter opening 33 enables the arcuate detent portion 32 to adjustflush with the underside of said guide member 35 when the blade injectorplate 17 is being moved between its two operative extremes shown inFIGS. 2 and 8, respectively. The blade injector plate 17 is adapted toslidably interfit between a pair of opposing lateral inturned flanges 37defining a channel therebetween in alignment with the aforesaid opening11 in the support segment 10. The corresponding edges on the plate 17are complementally beveled to interfit said inturned flanges 37 andproduce shoulders 38 with the vertical edged portions at the rear end ofsaid plate 17. Therefore, the blade injector plate 17 is slidablysupported by said inturned flanges and the aforesaid opening 11 as shownin FIGS. 2 and 9, said flanges providing a track" for the bevel edges onthe plate 17 to support said plate therefore the blade injector BI formanual reciprocative movement relative to the guide member 35 thereforethe razor head RH in effecting a blade transfer and accommodating amagazine exchange as is understood. The forward portions of said flanges37 are partially removed at 39 to provide clearance for the dull bladebeing withdrawn from the compartment 28 for deposit in the compartment29. The aforesaid detent portion 32 and cooperating slot 34 when engagedreleasably stabilize the blade injector plate 17 therefore the bladeinjector BI in fully protracted position shown in FIG. 2 wherein a newblade is releasably stabilized in shaving position and the saidshoulders 38 are in abutting relation with the confronting rear ends ofsaid flanges 37. Upon fully retracting the plate 17 therefore the bladeinjector Bl to the position of FIG. 8, the detent portion 32 becomeseffective in engagement with the rear edge 40 of the guide member 35 andin engageable alignment with the upper inner margin of said opening 1 1,thus releasably stabilizing the plate 17 therefore the blade injector BIin such retracted position which corresponds to withdrawal of a usedblade from compartment 28 for deposit in the compartment 29 or when amagazine exchange is being made.

It is important to note that upon inserting the blade injector Blthrough the opening 11 into slidable interfitting relation with saidinturned flanges 37 that fortuitous displacement of the blade injectorBl from the razor head RH is prevented by the detent portion 32 engagingthe upper inner margin of said opening 11. Accordingly, the detentportion 32 and shoulders 38 cooperate with the upper inner margin of theopening 12 and with the rear ends of the flanges 37, respectively, todefine positive limits of manual reciprocative movement of the bladeinjector Bl in placing a blade in shaving position and transferring itto the used blade compartment 29, and to accommodate a magazineexchange, while the function of the detent portion 32 and cooperatingslot 34 is to releasably stabilize the blade injector BI at such limitsof reciprocable movement. Disassembly of the blade injector BI from therazor head RH requires aligning of the detent portion 32 with theopening 11 and then manually withdrawing it from the razor head.

The rear terminal portion of said plate-l7 exterior of the razor headRH, is formed with a downturned extension 41 provided with a pair ofopposing lateral flanges 42 defining tabs (finger-pieces) for graspingbetween the thumb and forefinger, for example, to enable withdrawing theplate 17 therefore the blade injector BI to effect a blade transferbetween the blade compartments 28,29 while the finger under pressureagainst the extension 41 proper is effective to protract the controledge 26 on the shelf 18 into engagement with the butt edge 25 of the newblade B in compartment 28 and advance it to present its cutting edge 24through the blade outlet 27 into shaving position as shown in FIGS. Iand 2.

The aforesaid control shoulders 13 on the head segment 9 best shown inFIG. 1, are adapted to control the fully installed status of themagazine unit BM in the razor head RH as will be more fully explainedhereinafter.

The magazine unit BM shown in FIG. 6 is generally rectangular and isrelatively thin in depth compared to its length and width. The magazinecomprises: a detachable bottom wall (floor) 44 having a plurality ofprojecting locking tabs 45 defining at least two opposite edges thereofas shown in FIG. 2. These locking tabs are adapted to engagecomplemental recesses 46 formed in the inner side margins defining thebottoms of the front and rear walls 47,48, respectively, to produce aunitary assembly of the floor 44 and magazine walls as shown best inFIGS. 2, 6 and 7. One of the purposes in producing the floor 44detachable, is to enable loading new blades in the compartment 28 underbias of a compressed spring 49 shown in full lines in FIG. 2 and inbroken outline in FIG. 6, said latter spring being effective to feed thenew blades upwardly to place the topmost blade in alignment with saidblade outlet 27 defined by engagement of opposite end portions of thetopmost blade in compartment 28 with a pair of longitudinally spacedinwardly projecting blade retaining flanges 50 overlying opposite bladeend portions aforesaid, respectively, said flanges being spaced from theopen top of said latter compartment the thickness of a blade for the newblade to project its cutting edge 24 through the blade outlet 27 inshaving position without said opposite end portions of the bladebecoming disengaged from said retaining flanges 50 formed on the insideof the upper portions of the magazine sidewalls 51, 52, respectively,which extend above the top of the front and rear walls 47,48,respectively, thus producing a channel therebetween in which said bladeinjector BI is slidably disposed in operative relation to the open topof the magazine unit BM installed in the razor head (holder) RH shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The lower side of the blade outlet 27 is flush withthe tops of the walls 47,48, respectively, and the terminal ends of theblade outlet are closed to produce a pair of longitudinally spaced bladestops 53,54 interconnected by a downturned cutting edge guard segment 55subjacently spaced from the cutting edge 24 of the blade B in shavingposition to enable expulsion of beard-ladened lather from said cuttingedge through a communicating elongated opening 56 to the rear of saidguard segment 55 and flush with the outer face of the confrontingportion of the front wall 47 of the magazine unit BM, the downturnedface of said guard segment 55 being characterized by a series of closelygenerated longitudinal serrations best shown in FIG. 5 for controllingfacial contact and exposure of the beard hairs to the cutting edgeaforesaid. lntegrally formed atop the forward half substantially of saidretaining flanges 50, is a pair of forwardly inclined elongatedembossments 57,58, respectively, which project upwardly at their rearflush ends with the top surface of the aforesaid head segment 9 anddefine shoulders 59 engageable by the aforesaid control shoulders 13 onthe latter segment. The bottoms of the shoulders 59 are disposed flushwith the rearward portions of the tops of the sidewalls 51,52 of themagazine unit BM. The marginal profile of the head and support segments9,10, respectively, including the depending extension 14, is formed tohave contiguous relation with the confronting tops of the sidewalls51,52 which extend rearwardly from the aforesaid shoulders 59, and withthe perimeter of the rear end of said magazine unit BM, that is, thesidewall tops and perimeter of the rear end of the magazine unit BMeffect a substantially watertight seal with the marginal profile of therazor head RH when the blade magazine BM is in operative position asshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

That portion of the magazine floor 44 which closes the open bottom ofthe used blade compartment 29, is provided in part with a permanentmagnet 60 which has beveled front and rear longitudinal edges 61,62,respectively, adapted to engage complemental angulated surfaces 62,63,respectively, at the bottom of that portion of the floor 44 closing theused blade compartment 29 and the rear wall 48, respectively, tostabilize said magnet in effective position as shown. The detachableconstruction of the floor 44 enables installation of the magnet 60whereupon assembly of the floor 44 effects stabilization of the magnetin blade-holding position between the beveled edges and angulatedsurfaces aforesaid. A partition wall 64 integrally projects upwardlyfrom the medial transverse portion of the floor 44 which closes the openbottom of the magazine unit BM, said partition wall being characterizedby a tapering cross section to a point flush with the tops of the frontand rear walls 47,48, respectively. This partition wall serves to dividethe interior of the magazine unit BM into the aforesaid new and usedblade compartments 28,29, respectively. Upstanding from that portion ofthe floor which closes the bottom of the compartment 28, is a pair ofspaced blade control elements (projections) 65,66, intermediatelydisposed with respect to the width of said latter compartment. Theseblade control elements extend flush with the tops of the partition wall64 as well as with the front and rear walls 47,48, respectively, andproject through the aforesaid blade slots 23 to maintain the blades B inaligned stacked formation for operative engagement by the aforesaidblade injector Bl in the manner abovedescribed.

Depending from the central portion of the underside of said floor 44, isan integral embossment 70 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). This embossment is formedinteriorly with a blind cavity 71 opening toward the rear end forreception of a manual latch (catch) 72 pivotally mounted at one end on across pin 73 supported on the sidewalls of said cavity as shown. Acompressed spring 74 is operably disposed between the bottom wall 75 ofsaid cavity and the underside of said latch 72, and is effective to biasthe latter upwardly into engagement with the upper margin of arectangular opening 76- through the support extension 14 (see FIGS. 2and 4). This latch is operable under thumb pressure, for example, whilethe razor handle 16 is grasped between the fingers and palm of the samehand. Downward movement of the latch disengages its latching element 77defining the other end of the former, from said opening 76 and ensuingforward thrust by the thumb pushes the magazine unit BM forwardly foreasy grasp of the finger depressions 78 between the forefinger and thumbof the other hand to effect removal of the magazine unit from the razorhead RH as shown in FIG. 7. The arcuate surface of the latching element77 is provided with closely generated longitudinal serrations 79 tofacilitate thumb contact during a magazine exchange. Insertion of themagazine unit BM is readily effected by grasping the finger depressions78 as described and then sliding the magazine into position in the razorhead RH as shown in FIG. 2 and demonstrated in progress by FIG. 8 withthe blade injector Bl fully retracted whereupon full protraction of thelatter is effective to bring the control edge 26 on the shelf 18 intoengagement with the butt edge 25 of the new blade B and advance thecutting edge 24 of the latter through the blade outlet 27 into shavingposition wherein the corners of the cutting edge abut the blade stops53,54, respectively. The latching element 77 under spring 74automatically yields to accommodate passing through the opening 76 andthen automatically raises into engagement with the upper edge margin ofthe opening 76 to lock the blade magazine BM in operative position inthe razor R. Therefore, removal of the magazine requires only manualunlatching since the latch 72 operates automatically to lock themagazine to the razor as a function of pushing the magazine into therazor head RH as shown in FIG. 8 to the operating position shown in FIG.2.

A window 80 is provided through that portion of the sidewall 51 inalignment with the new blade compartment 28 to enable the users visualobservation of the number of unused blade remaining in the compartment28 (see FIG. 7) thus anticipating a magazine exchange. Also a vent port81 through the floor 44 ahead of the cutting edges 24 of the new bladesin compartment 28, is provided to insure draining of any water that mayenter the compartment 28 when rinsing during a shave or when shaking dryafter a shave. It is contemplated that upon completing a shave that therazor R should be shaken free of any water therefore any residuemoisture (dampness) in the compartment 28 will either drain through theport 81 are quickly disappear with the razor out of use.

The normal operational cycle of the present safety razor R involvesgrasping the depressions 78 between the thumb and the forefinger of onehand and inserting a loaded magazine BM into the razor head RH asdemonstrated by FIG. 8 while the blade injector Bl is fully retracted,and then manually protracting the latter to the FIG. 2 position whereinthe topmost blade previously disposed in the compartment 28 is nowadvanced to project its cutting edge 24 in shaving position against theaforesaid blade stops 53,54. During insertion of the magazine BM, thelatch 72 automatically functions under its spring 74 to engage themarginal edge of said opening 76 to lock the magazine in operatingposition. Thereafter, when a new blade has been used until dull, fullmanual cycling of the blade injector Bl, that is, full retracting andprotracting movements thereof, causes the dulled blade to be withdrawnfor deposit in the compartment 29 under gravity to engage the magnet 60to prevent rattling" as a function of the retracting phase of saidcycling, and the protracting phase being effective to engage the topmostblade in compartment 28 disposed contiguous at opposite ends to saidretaining flanges 50, and advance the same into shaving position againstthe blade stops 53,54 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During the retractingphase, the control shoulders 22 engage the slot edges in the blade B andwithdraw the latter for storage in compartment 29, while in theprotracting phase of said cycling, the control edge 26 on the shelf 18engages the butt edge of the topmost blade in compartment 28 andadvances the same into shaving position as explained above. When adulled blade is withdrawn over the partition wall 64 in registry withthe open top of the compartment 29, it falls under gravity to the floorof that compartment and is instantly grasped by the magnet 60 to preventrattling," the magnet being effective to hold all of the bladesstabilized which originate from the new blade compartment 28 accordingto the number of blades originally provided, such as six to blades. Uponwithdrawal of a dulled blade in the manner described above, the spring49 automatically moves the topmost blade B into engagement with theretaining flanges 50 in alignment with the blade outlet 27 in readinessfor advancement into shaving position under full protractive movement ofthe blade injector Bl.

It is thus seen that the blade injector BI performs a two-fold functionof l) injecting the new blade into shaving position against the bladestops 53,54 and (2) ejecting (withdrawing) the dulled blade from shavingposition for storage in the used blade compartment 29 under said magnet60 until a magazine exchange is made. During such a blade change,ejection of the used blade from shaving position as it moves across theopen end of compartment 28 prevents the next succeeding (top) unusedblade from moving upwardly under spring 49; but upon the dulled bladeclearing the aforesaid retaining flanges 50, the topmost blade in thecompartment 28 moves automatically into engagement with said retainingflanges 50 under spring 49 which places such blade in alignment with theblade outlet 27 for ensuing injection of its cutting-edge portion intoshaving position against the blade stops 53,54 as is understood.

Accordingly, the spring 49 continuously biases the stack of new bladesupwardly to engage the topmost blade with said retaining flanges 50 forsubsequent projection under protractive movement of the blade injectorBl into shaving position and while such blade is in shaving position orbeing ejected for replacement by a new blade, it remains partially orwholly in contact with the next succeeding new blade for the latter tomove upwardly under spring 49 into engagement with the retaining flanges50, upon the dull blade reaching the open top of the used bladecompartment 29. Thus, the active blade prevents fortuitous displacementof the underlying blade until the dull blade is removed from thecompartment 28 for storage in the compartment 29 under the magnet 60.Upon completion of the storage of the dull blade, protraction of theblade injector Bl forces the new topmost blade now in engagement withthe retaining flanges 50 under said spring 49, partly through the bladeoutlet 27 to expose the cutting edge 24 for shaving with the comers ofthe latter in engagement with the blade stops 53,54, and the used bladeor blades in the compartment 29 are fully stabilized under the magnet 60to produce an absolutely quiet use of the razor R since the used bladescannot rattle under movement of the razor while shaving or handlingotherwise and the spring 49 maintains tension on the stack of new bladesin the compartment 28.

The aforesaid detent portion 32 and cooperating slot 34 are effective atthe extremes of reciprocative movement of said blade injector BI toreleasably stabilize the latter in such extremes to prevent fortuitousmovement thereof therefore the connected blade intermediate suchextremes, and to stabilize the active blade in shaving position.

The magazine unit BM may be used separately from the razor R for shavingin the event the razor is not available or misplaced, since theforefinger of the shaving hand may be pressed against the top of theblade in the blade outlet 27 and advance the same into shaving positionagainst the blade stops 53,54, and while holding the blade so advancedunder the forefinger and with the second finger and thumb of the samehand grasping the finger depressions 78, a shaving operation may beexpeditiously carried out in such emergency without likelihood ofpersonal injury or inconvenience.

A further novel advantage of the present safety razor R resides in theuse of commercial injector single-edged blades, and the magazine unit BMis preferably formed of plastic material for economical production andlightness.

The novel and patentable blade magazine BM through the use of the bladewindow which may be open are covered with transparent material, exposesthe quantity of unused blades to the user so that a magazine exchangemay be anticipated, such magazine featuring the detachable bottom 44from which the aforesaid blade control elements 65,66 upstand tofacilitate reloading with commercially packaged blades when afactory-loaded magazine may be temporarily unobtainable, thus enablinguse of the present safety razor R if only one single-edged blade isavailable which can be inserted into the open bottom of the emptymagazine unit BM under spring bias when the bottom is reattached or,optionally, such blade may be inserted between the retaining flanges 50and said spring 49 and subsequently fed into shaving position by theblade injector Bl in the manner above described in detail. Normally themagazine unit BM would be loaded with new sharp blades at the factorythrough the open bottom of the new blade compartment 28 before attachingthe floor 44.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, however, it is to be understood that the inventioncontemplates the full scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. ln a safety razor, the combination of: an upright handle; a holderincluding an extension connected at one end to said handle and the otherend defining a forward lip segment extending at an angle to saidextension; a disposable blade magazine unit adapted to be removablycarried by said holder, said magazine unit having a front wall spacedfrom a rear wall with a dividing wall therebetween defining twocompartments for new and used blades, respectively, the latter beingcharacterized by a sharpened edge opposite a nonsharpened edge and anapertured body defining with said nonsharpened edge a segmental portionof said body, a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-retaining flanges inblade thickness space from the top of said front wall, a blade outletfor exposing the sharpened edge of said blades for shaving, and a guardsegment substantially coextensive with said blade outlet and subjacentlydisposed with respect to the blade sharpened edge in shaving position;blade-moving means operably mounted on said lip segment in operativerelationship to the topmost blade in the new blade compartment forindividually and successively advancing such blades to expose thesharpened edge in said blade outlet for shaving, and for transferringthe new blades when dulled from the new blade compartment to the usedblade compartment for storage; means in the used blade compartment forautomatically stabilizing the used blades in stacked formation againstrattling during handling of the razor; manual means for securing themagazine unit in operating position on said holder and for releasing themagazine unit for removal from said holder when the new blade supply isexhausted; and resilient detent means operably associated with saidmoving means, for releasably stabilizing the latter in fully protractedand retracted positions.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said blade-moving meanscomprise: a rectangular guide member fast on the underside of said lipsegment for movably supporting a rectangular plate; an offset shelfprovided with a blade control edge defining the forward edge of saidmovable plate, said control edge being adapted to engage thenonsharpened edge of each new blade to advance the sharpened edgethereof into shaving position; an opening through said extensionsubjacent to the rear end of said lip segment; a resilient membermounted on the upper side of said shelf flush with the upper face ofsaid movable plate, and provided with a pair of longitudinally spacedoverhanging extensions which span the aforesaid segmental portion of thetopmost blade, said extensions terminating in a rounded end spaced froma rearwardly disposed blade control shoulder, said shoulders beingadapted to engage a cooperating edge of the aforesaid body aperture ofthe topmost blade aforesaid to withdraw the same out of shavin'gposition, said blade control edge being effective to advance a new bladeinto shaving position; and a reduced width extension projecting from therear edge of said movable plate through said opening in said extensionon the handle to the exterior thereof and terminating in a downtumedportion provided with a pair of spaced lateral finger tabs to enablemanual grasp thereof to move said movable plate.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said automatic meanscomprise: a permanent magnet in the floor of the used blade compartment.

4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said manual meanscomprise: a pivotally mounted latch carried by said magazine unit andspring-biased into latching connection automatically with a cooperatingportion on said handle extension; a compressed spring for biasing saidlatch into latching position; and a knurled surface on a portion of saidlatch enabling firm finger contact therewith to effect two-way movementthereof and to partially displace said magazine unit from said holderunder two-directional finger pressure applied to said knurled surface.

5. The combination according to claim 4 in which said detent meanscomprise: a transverse slot in said guide member spaced from the rearedge thereof; a springy detent element projecting from the rear edge ofsaid resilient member, and terminates in an arcuate portion freelymovably within a perimeter opening in said movable plate, to releasablyengage said transverse slot in said guide member and thereby releasablystabilizing said movable plate in its fully protracted position, andreleasably engaging the rear edge of said guide member and the uppermargin of said opening in said handle extension to releasably stabilizesaid movable plate in its fully retracted position.

6. The combination according to claim 5 in which said blade outletcomprises: an elongated rectangular opening defined by blade thicknessspace obtaining between the top of the magazine front wall and thesuperjacent forward marginal edge of said lip segment, said marginaledge lying contiguously to the marginal portion of the blade definingthe sharpened edge thereof.

7. In an injector-type safety razor, the combination of: a cutting bladehaving a sharpened edge opposite a nonsharpened edge and an aperturedbody defining with said nonsharpened edge a segmental portion of saidblade body; and blademoving means having a resilient extension with ahooklike terminal portion spaced from a blade-control edge between whichsaid segmental portion is confined whereby said moving means and blademove as a unit, said blade control edge being effective to protract saidblade to expose its sharpened edge for shaving and said hooklike portionbeing effective to retract said blade out of shaving position.

8. In an injector-type safety razor, the combination of: a cutting bladehaving a sharpened edge opposite a nonsharpened edge and an aperturetherebetween defining a segmental portion of the blade body;blade-moving means including a resilient extension with a hookliketerminal portion spaced from a blade control edge between which saidsegmental body portion is confined whereby said moving means and blademove as a unit, said blade control edge effecting protractive movementof said blade to expose its sharpened edge for shaving and said hooklikeportion effecting retractive movement of said blade out of shavingposition for storage; disposable blade magazine means having a frontwall spaced from a rear wall and a bottom wall with a medial upstandingwall dividing.

the space between said front and rear walls into a pair of compartmentsfor new and used blades, respectively, a pair of longitudinally spacedblade-retaining flanges engageable by opposite end margins of thetopmost blade in said new blade compartment to present such blade formovements aforesaid under said moving means, a stabilizing element insaid new blade compartment projecting through the apertures in said newblades except the aforesaid topmost blade, for maintaining the newblades in stacked operational alignment for successive and individualprotractive movement into shaving position, biasing means in said newblade compartment continuously feeding the blades therein toward saidtopmost position into engagement with said pair of retaining flanges,and a guard segment subjacently disposed with respect to the bladesharpened edge in shaving position; manually operable means for movingsaid moving means, retractive movement of a blade out of shavingposition being effective to store the same in said used bladecompartment; means in the used blade compartment for stabilizing thestored blades against rattling; manual means for securing the magazineunit to a holder in operating position and for releasing the same forremoval when the new blade supply is exhausted; and resilient detentmeans operably related with said moving means, for releasablystabilizing the latter in fully protracted and retracted positions.

9. In a safety razor blade magazine unit, the combination comprising: ahollow casing open at the top and bottom and having front and rear wallsand a pair of interconnecting sidewalls; a partition wall dividing theinterior of said casing into two compartments for new and used blades,respectively; a cutting-edge guard segment defining the outer upper edgemargin of said front wall; an elongated lather expulsion opening betweensaid guard segment and front wall; a blade outlet defined by the top ofsaid front wall; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade stops definingopposite ends, respectively, of said blade outlet; a pair oflongitudinally spaced blade-retaining flanges projecting toward eachother and defined by the inner top margins of said sidewalls,respectively, and adapted to overlie opposite end portions,respectively, of said new blade compartment in blade thickness spacedrelation with respect to the top of said front wall; a detachable bottomwall for closing the corresponding opening of said casing; a pair oflongitudinally spaced blade-stabilizing elements upstanding from thatportion of the bottom wall of said new blade compartment; a permanentmagnet in the floor of that portion of the bottom wall of said usedblade compartment; a central transverse embossment integrally dependingfrom the underside of said bottom wall; a blind cavity in saidembossment opening toward the rear end of said magazine unit; apivotally mounted latch in said cavity with the free end thereofprojecting exteriorly thereof; and a compressed spring operativelypositioned in said cavity between said latch and a wall portion of saidcavity to bias said latch into latching position.

10. A safety razor blade magazine unit adapted to be removably mountedon a holder, comprising in combination: a rectangular hollow casing openat the top and bottom; a pair of transversely spaced front and rearwall, respectively; a pair of longitudinally spaced sidewalls,respectively, extending above the tops of said front and rear walls; adetachable bottom wall for closing the corresponding opening of saidcasing and having a pair of upstanding longitudinally spacedbladestabilizing elements and a longitudinal partition wall upstandingflush with the tops of said front and rear walls and transversely spacedfrom said stabilizing elements, to produce a new and used bladecompartment with respect to said front and rear walls, respectively, insaid casing; a pair of longitudinally spaced blade-retaining flangesprojecting toward each other from that portion extending above saidfront and rear walls, respectively, in blade thickness space from thetop of said front wall, said flanges being adapted to overlie oppositeend portions of said new blade compartment; a blade outlet defined bythe aforesaid blade thickness space; a pair of longitudinally spacedblade stops defining the forward closed terminals of opposite ends,respectively, of said blade outlet; a pair of longitudinally spacedapertures through each of said blades in stacked formation in the newblade compartment and through which said stabilizing elements projectflush with the bottom of said blade outlet; a compressed spring operablypositioned between the bottom of the new blade compartment andconfronting lowermost blade therein for continuously urging the stack ofblades upwardly to present said opposite end portions of the topmostblade in engagement with said retaining flanges, respectively, inreadiness for advancement into said blade outlet to engage the bladecutting edge comers with said blade stops, respectively; a permanentmagnet in the bottom wall underlying said used blade compartment forstabilizing the used blades in stacked formation against rattling; acutting-edge guard segment interconnecting said blade stops; anelongated lather expulsion opening adjacent said guard segment andsubstantially coextensive therewith; a pair of forwardly inclinedembossments integrally formed atop the aforesaid retaining flanges,respectively, to produce a pair of longitudinally spaced controlshoulders with the latter; a central embossment depending from theunderside of said bottom wall and provided on opposite sides with a pairof finger depressions, respectively; a blind horizontal cavity formed inthe rear end portion of said cavity; a latch pivotally mounted in saidcavity on a cross pin spanning said cavity and supported at oppositeends in a pair of vertical walls, respectively; a compressed springoperably disposed between said latch and bottom wall of said cavity tobias said latch into latching position with respect to said holder; anda knurled surface on the free end portion of said latch enabling two-wayapplication of manual pressure to operate said latch in opposition tosaid last-defined spring to free said magazine unit from said holder andpartially displace the same therefrom for removal of the magazine unitfrom said holder.

11. The combination according to claim 10 in which said partition wallis integral at opposite ends thereof with intermediate portions of saidsidewalls, respectively, and offset upwardly the thickness of saidbottom wall to accommodate attachment of the latter.

12. The combination according to claim 11 including a recess formed inthe inner side of the bottom end margins of said front and rear walls;and complemental projections defining corresponding edges of said bottomwall for engaging said recesses to produce a unitary assembly of saidhollow casing and bottom wall.

13. The combination according to claim 12 in which said front wall isinclined forwardly to enable the guard segment aforesaid defining theupper outer edge of said front wall, to contact the skin thusfacilitating control of the cutting edge of the effective blade at itsproper cutting angle.

